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Here's the top ten hits in Germany this week, according to their official singles chart , as French singer Imany holds tight for an eighth week at #1... 1. " Don't Be So Shy " - Imany (1) 2. " Cold Water " - Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber & MØ (2) 3. " Bonfire " - Felix Jaehn featuring Alma (3) 4. " Let Me Love You " - DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber (4) 5. " This Girl " - KUNGS vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners (5) 6. " Treat You Better " - Shawn Mendes (6) 7. " The Ocean " - Mike Perry featuring Shy Martin (7) 8. "Sucker For Pain" - Lil' Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, & Imagine Dragons featuring Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors (DEBUT) 9. " Perfect Strangers " - Jonas Blue featuring JP Cooper (9) 10. "The Sound Of Silence" - Disturbed (DEBUT) With an unusual crediting on a pop record, four rappers and two alternative rock bands come together at #8 with...

" Who Do You Give Your Love To? " - Michael Morales from the album Michael Morales (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 10 Today's song of the day comes from pop singer/songwriter Michael Morales , who grew up in San Antonio in a family of musicians, and released his first album in 1989. The first single from the set, "Who Do You Give Your Love To?", was a enjoyable if not remarkable slice of power-pop written by the artist, who sonically bears more than a passable resemblance to Rick Springfield... "Who Do You Give Your Love To?" became Morales' first hit, reaching the pop top-20 in July of 1989. (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Here's the top ten hits in France this week, according to their official singles chart , as French singer Imany finally makes it to #1 in her homeland with "Don't Be So Shy". It's in its 25th week... 1. " Don't Be So Shy " - Imany (2) 2. " Can't Stop The Feeling! " - Justin Timberlake (1) 3. " Encore Un Soir " - Celine Dion (10) 4. " Duele El Corazon " - Enrique Iglesias featuring Wisin (3) 5. " Don't You Know " - KUNGS featuring Jamie N Commons (6) 6. " Let Me Love You " - DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber (8) 7. " This Girl " - KUNGS vs Cookin' On 3 Burners (5) 8. " Cheap Thrills " - Sia featuring Sean Paul (7) 9. " Love To Love You Baby " - Giabiconi (4) 10. " This Is What You Came For " - Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna (9) No new songs debut in the top-10 this week, and one that makes the top-40, "Boucan" from rapper Mai...

" Crazy About Her " - Rod Stewart from the album Out Of Order (1988) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 10 Today's song of the day comes from Scottish rock icon Rod Stewart , whose 1988 album Out Of Order had been one of his most successful so far at radio, with two top-20 pop hits in " Lost In You " and " Forever Young " followed by the mid-tempo " My Heart Can't Tell You No " with reached the top-5. The fourth pop radio single from the set was the dance-rock exercise "Crazy About Her". Written by Stewart with band keyboardist Duane Hitchings and guitarist Jim Cregan, it was like a lot of his 80s singles that straddled guitar crash and a funky-lite beat, with Chic's Bernard Edwards' production providing the right amount of bass (though the "rap" interlude hasn't aged as well)... "Crazy About Her" became the fourth top-20 pop hit from Out of Order in July ...

" Fascination Street " - The Cure from the album Disintegration (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #46 This week's "robbed hit" comes from the British "goth-mod rock" band the Cure , who after eight years and seven studio album landed themselves a top-40 pop hit in the U.S. with the sublime jangle-rock of " Just Like Heaven " in the winter of 1988. A follow-up single, " Hot! Hot! Hot! " was also a minor hit in America at #68. However, alcoholism caused the ousting of keyboardist Lol Tolhurst, the only remaining original member besides lead singer/guitarist Robert Smith. With former Psychedelic Fur Roger O'Donnell coming on as an official member, the Cure recorded their eighth studio set Disintegration . While internationally the more creepy arachnophobic " Lullaby " was put out as the first single, in the U.S. the first radio offering from the set was the dark, almost pre-grunge rock of "Fascination Street...

" Toy Soldiers " - Martika from the album Martika (1988) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 13 Today's song of the day is from (then) teen pop singer Martika , who had gone from a stint as a child variety show star in Kids Incorporated to her Madonna-esque first hit single " More Than You Know " in the spring of 1989. The follow-up release swung to the other side of the spectrum, as she co-wrote the anti-drug "message song" "Toy Soldiers" with her producer Michael Jay. Inspired by a friend struggling with addiction, the marching plea sported background vocals from Kids Incorporated co-stars like Fergie (of later Black Eyed Peas fame), Rashaan Patterson, and Jennifer Love Hewitt... "Toy Soldiers" became Martika's biggest pop hit, topping the American pop chart in July of 1989. The song also slipped onto Billboard 's Adult Contemporary (or "easy listening") radio chart at #37...

" Express Yourself " - Madonna from the album Like A Prayer (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 11 Today's song of the day comes from Madonna , who had just released the most provocative music video up to that point for the gospel-pop anthem " Like A Prayer " in the spring of 1989. The second release from the same-titled album was another slice of uplifting dance-pop, "Express Yourself". This time, the video was a bit "safer", though it did sport her flashing her lace bra and grabbing her crotch in Michael Jackson-style. The song, written and produced by Madonna with Stephen Bray, has since become one of her most loved singles. While the original was a brass-infused album version, MTV mostly played the video using the Shep Pettibone remix, which removed the horns and admittedly campy background deep-vocals and added more bass... "Express Yourself" became the second top-10 hit from Like A...

Let's cross the Atlantic yet again to check out the notable songs and albums making their way on to the official charts in the UK this week... On the singles chart , Major Lazer leads for a fifth week with the Justin Bieber/MØ-sung " Cold Water "... A year after Ellie Goulding went to #1 with the song " Love Me Like You Do " from the movie 50 Shades of Grey , she is back with another film offering, this time "Still Falling For You" from the Bridget Jones' Baby soundtrack which enters at #25... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

( Ed. Note: wouldn't you know it, but going through the SOTDs I've done this year and realized I passed this one over. Instead of shifting my sched, I'll throw a bonus in for Saturday. Cheers!) " Stand " - R.E.M. from the album Green (1988) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #6 (three weeks) Weeks in the top-40: 11 The last time we saw alternative rock pioneers R.E.M. was with their pop breakthrough hit " The One I Love ", which sauntered into the top ten in the winter of 1987.  With that momentum, and wishing to expand their worldwide audience, the band switched from indie label I.R.S. to behemoth Warner Brothers in time for their sixth studio set Green . The first single from the set was the typically dark brooding emo-rock of " Orange Crush ", which hat-tipped to the lethal chemical weapon Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War. However, the second release from the record was unlike anything they've done before; an absolutely perky pop ...

" The Doctor " - The Doobie Brothers from the album Cycles (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 9 Today's song of the day comes from the rock/soul band the Doobie Brothers , who came together in the early 70s in Northern California with guitarists Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons joining drummer John Hartman. They released their debut album in 1971, but it didn't get much notice at first; but after adding funky bass player Tiran Porter, their second release Toulouse Street brought them to pop radio, where the easy-going lead single " Listen To The Music " reached #11 (and #3 in Canada) in 1972. The following year, with their The Captain and Me set, they conquered the top ten with one of the best rhythm guitar hooks in rock history on " Long Train Runnin' " (#8). Recruiting a third guitarist with ex-Steely Dan guy Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, the Brothers landed their first #1 pop hit in 1975 with the s...

Friday's here, and it's time to run down my top 100 tunes from the previous week. Sia remains at #1 for a seventh week, while Calvin Harris and Rihanna (pictured above) climb a notch within the top ten. Songs from Ariana Grande, twenty-one pilots, and Charlie Puth/Selena Gomez make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red ), while former big hits from Alex Newell/Jess Glynne and Guordan Banks drop off the chart. Get better and stronger, Rolando! This Week             Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Cheap Thrills - Sia f/Sean Paul (1) 2. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele (3) 3. One Dance - Drake f/Wizkid & Kyla (5) 4. Can't Stop The Feeling! - Justin Timberlake (2) 5. H.O.L.Y. - Florida Georgia Line (7) 6. Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers (4) 7. This Is What You Came Fo...

" Be With You " - Bangles from the album Everything (1988) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #30 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 5 Today's song of the day is by the all-female rock band the Bangles , whose third album Everything had already scored them their second #1 pop hit in the U.S. with the ballad " Eternal Flame ", along with the top-5 lead single " In Your Room ". The third single from the set was "Be With You", co-written and sung by the group's drummer, Debi Peterson, who finally got her turn with a radio offering... "Be With You" became the Bangles' most recent top-40 pop hit in America in June of 1989. Internationally, the song did a bit better, reaching the top-20 in Austria (#12), Ireland (#14), Norway (#18), and Switzerland (#19). A fourth single from Everything , " I'll Set You Free ", was a minor hit in Australia and the UK, but didn't get any attention in the States. They split up ...

Let's head Down Under to check out the singles and albums reaching the local artist chart in Australia this week... On the Australian Artist Singles chart , rapper Illy and singer Vera Blue remain at #1 with " Paper Cuts " (on the main chart they're at #5, with the Chainsmokers' " Closer " at #1)... Indie-pop duo Big Scary, from Melbourne, climb in at #13 with "The Opposite Of Us"... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

" Rooms On Fire " - Stevie Nicks from the album The Other Side Of The Mirror (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 7 Today's song of the day is by Stevie Nicks , who was last seen taking her third solo album turn in 1985, with the Top-5 pop hit " Talk To Me " and top-20 follow-up " I Can't Wait ". A third single, the beautiful " Has Anybody Ever Written Anything For You? ", missed the pop top-40 at #60, but reached a respectable #31 on Billboard 's Adult Contemporary radio chart. Returning to Fleetwood Mac for their 1987 album Tango In The Night , it would be four years before her next solo release, The Other Side Of The Mirror . Produced by Rupert Hine (The Fixx, Howard Jones), the album didn't stray into new wave territory like the mention of Hine would suggest; rather he gravitated more to her style, and with a romantic relationship brewing between them, Stevie wrote what would become the ...

Here's the top ten hits in Germany this week, according to their official singles chart , as Imany remains at #1 for a seventh week... 1. " Don't Be So Shy " - Imany (1) 2. " Cold Water " - Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber & MØ (2) 3. " Bonfire " - Felix Jaehn featuring Alma (3) 4. " Let Me Love You " - DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber (8) 5. " This Girl " - KUNGS vs Cookin' On 3 Burners (5) 6. " Treat You Better " - Shawn Mendes (4) 7. " The Ocean " - Mike Perry featuring Shy Martin (6) 8. " Ain't Your Mama " - Jennifer Lopez (7) 9. " Perfect Strangers " - Jonas Blue featuring JP Cooper (9) 10. " Sing Me To Sleep " - Alan Walker (RE-ENTRY) No new songs make their first appearance in the top ten this week. Further down the chart at #23 is Hamburg-based rap group Beginner rockets into the top 100 with their comic new track "Es War Einmal" (...

" What You Don't Know " - Exposé from the album What You Don't Know (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8 (two weeks) Weeks in the Top-40: 11 Today's song of the day comes from the freestyle dance music trio Exposé , who had landed four top-10 pop hits from their debut album Exposure with " Come Go With Me ", " Point Of No Return ", " Let Me Be The One ", and the #1 ballad " Seasons Change ". One of their biggest strengths as an act is that all three sang lead on their debut album (although three of the singles were Jeannette Jurado's lead, while "Let Me Be The One" featured Gioia Bruno). Their second album What You Don't Know was released in 1989, with their mentor Lewis Martinee continuing to produce and write most of their material. Bruno was featured on the dancetastic title track, which became the first single from the set... "What You Don't Know" became the trio's fifth ...

Here's the top ten hits in France this week, according to their official singles chart , as Justin Timberlake climbs back to #1 for a sixth nonconsecutive week... 1. " Can't Stop The Feeling " - Justin Timberlake (2) 2. " Don't Be So Shy " - Imany (3) 3. " Duele El Corazon " - Enrique Iglesias featuring Wisin (4) 4. "Love To Love You Baby" - Giabiconi (DEBUT) 5. " This Girl " - KUNGS vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners (6) 6. "Don't You Know" - KUNGS featuring Jamie N Commons (DEBUT) 7. " Cheap Thrills " - Sia featuring Sean Paul (8) 8. " Let Me Love You " - DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber (1) 9. " This Is What You Came For " - Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna (9) 10. " Encore Un Soir " - Celine Dion (7) Model and singer  (Baptiste) Giabiconi, born to Corsican parents in the southern city of Marignane, leaps into the top ten at #4 with his interpolation of Donna ...

" Into The Night " - Benny Mardones from the album Never Run, Never Hide (1980) and Benny Mardones (1989, re-recorded version) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11 (1980, two weeks), #20 (1989, one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 12 (1980), 7 (1989) Today's song of the day comes from pop/rock singer Ruben "Benny" Mardones . Born in Cleveland but growing up in Maryland, Benny didn't get his recording career on track until he came to New York in the 70s. His second album, Never Run, Never Hide , included a soft-rock song written by Mardones and Robert Tepper (who eventually had success on his own with " No Easy Way Out " from Rocky IV ). The result, "Into The Night", was one of the most strangest "beautiful" songs to ever hit the pop charts. With explicit lyrics about falling in love and bedding a girl whose age would now clearly count as statuatory rape (mind you, Benny was 34 at the time it was released) sung in earnest over this ...

" Round and Round " - New Order from the album Technique (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #64  This week's "robbed hit" comes from the British new wave band New Order , who had evolved from their post-punk roots after the dissolution of Joy Division to a synthpop powerhouse with their first American top-40 pop hit " True Faith " in the winter of 1987. That single was taken from their collection Substance , which was a huge success even to this day (it appears on Rolling Stone 's list of the 500 best albums of the rock era). They also scored their first #1 dance hit in the U.S. with the "double-A-sided" single " Blue Monday 1988 " and " Touched By The Hand Of God " (the former also climbed to #68 on the American pop chart and #3 in the UK). Going to the Spanish vacation island of Ibiza to start recording their next album Technique , there emerge a much stronger gravitation to club music, which was apparent in the...

" If You Don't Know Me By Now " - Simply Red from the album A New Flame (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 15 Today's song of the day comes from the British pop/soul band Simply Red , who had big success in America with their debut album and #1 hit "Holding Back The Years", but had a little less with their sophomore effort, though it still got them a top-40 pop hit with " The Right Thing " in the spring of 1987. (Another track from the album, " Maybe Someday ", hit #28 on the American Adult Contemporary radio chart). Nevertheless, the set did respectably internationally, with three top-40 hits in their native UK. Their sound was evolving into more of a soulful direction away from new wave, and that continued with their third release A New Flame in 1989. The first single was the seductively-paced " It's Only Love ", which bridged both sophisti-pop and quiet storm in its production, an...

" Giving Up On Love " - Rick Astley from the album Hold Me In Your Arms (1988) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #38 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 1 Today's song of the day comes from fresh-faced British pop singer Rick Astley , whose second album Hold Me In Your Arms returned him to the top-10 on the American pop charts in the winter of 1989 with " She Wants To Dance With Me ".  While in England, he scored two more top-10 hits with the bouncy " Take Me To Your Heart " and the title track ballad , in America the record company chose instead to put out the shuffling mid-tempo "Giving Up On Love", which I guess gave a passing nod to the rise of new jack swing. although the juxtaposition of the bright, sunny production to the lyrics of betrayal (as possibly written by Jack McBreyer on 30 Rock , though in truth penned solely by Rick) was a little jarring... "Giving Up On Love" became Rick's fifth top-40 pop hit in America in...

" Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me) " - Roachford from the album Roachford (1988) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #25 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 5 Today's song of the day comes from the British rock band Roachford , who came together behind group namesake and lead singer Andrew Roachford in London in the late 80s. With an all-black lineup that played rock music with a danceable beat, they stood out from their peers in mid-80s lily-white new wave-obsessed Britain. Their debut single, "Cuddly Toy", originally was released in the summer of 1988, where it was a minor hit at #61. Written and co-produced by Andrew, when it was re-released in January of 1989 (with the tag "Feel For Me") it did much better, and even became a success in the U.S... "Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)" became Roachford's sole top-40 pop hit in the U.S. in June of 1989. The 12" remixed version reached #34 on Billboard 's Dance Club Play chart. Internationally, the ...

Let's cross the Atlantic one more time to check out the songs and albums making their way on to the official charts in the UK this week... On the British singles chart , Major Lazer with Justin Bieber and MØ spend their fourth week at #1 out of four weeks on the chart with " Cold Water "... In this rather slow week on the chart, the top debut doesn't show up until #60, as American pop/rock band OneRepublic is in with "Kids". It follows " Wherever I Go ", which went to #29 earlier this year... (Click below to see the rest of the post)

Friday's here, and it's time to run down my top 100 tunes from the previous week. Sia and Sean Paul reign for a sixth week, while Florida Georgia Line (pictured above) climb a notch in the top ten. Former big hits from Barns Courtney, Ruth B., and Zayn drop out of the chart, while songs from twenty-one pilots, Cage The Elephant, and Joe Bermudez make the biggest jumps (moves of 10+ places highlighted in red ). One year older. Damn. This Week             Song/Artist (last week's position in parentheses) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Cheap Thrills - Sia f/Sean Paul (1) 2. Can't Stop The Feeling! - Justin Timberlake (2) 3. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele (3) 4. Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers (4) 5. One Dance - Drake f/Wizkid & Kyla (7) 6. Bored To Death - blink-182 (6) 7. H.O.L.Y. - Florida Georgia Line (8) 8. This Is What I C...

" Veronica " - Elvis Costello from the album Spike (1989) Billboard Hot 100 peak: #19 (one week) Weeks in the Top-40: 6 Today's song of the day comes from British post-punk rock icon Elvis Costello , who was last seen here when he broke through on the American charts in 1983 with the adult-pop reflection " Everyday I Write The Book ". The next year, amidst tensions that broke up his backing band the Attractions, he followed it up with the Goodbye Cruel World album, with a collaboration with Daryl Hall, " The Only Flame In Town ", that became a minor pop (#56) and rock (#44) hit. Meanwhile, another track, " I Wanna Be Loved " paired with a non-album track " Turning The Town Red ", reached the top-40 in the UK (#25). With the cool reception to the synth-driven pop of that album, Costello returned to a more roots-rock sound for his first album without the Attractions, King Of America in 1986. From it a cover of the Animals...